By Nury Vittachi

Friday, 09 February 2007

Transcript of RTHK debate

THE ANTICS OF the Hong Kong Gorefest Board, I mean, Hong Kong Litfest Board, continue to attract media attention -- to wit, a live discussion on RTHK Radio Three this morning.

Our blogger appeared live on the radio this morning, on RTHK, in an interview that was immediately followed by a separate interview with Rosemary Sayer, representing the HK literary festival board. Several items of mail have been received about it. * YOU LOST I listened to the radio debate on Backchat on Radio Three this morning, and found it very interesting. I’m sorry to say that I think you lost the debate by a small margin, although it wasn’t really your fault. It was the fault of the people at RTHK. Why on earth did they have you speaking separately, with her going after you? Why wasn’t it a proper debate? Why were you not allowed to answer back? She had plenty of time to refute your allegations and then say all sorts of things about you that you could not respond to. I think it was a stupid decision in terms of radio. They would have had themselves a much better show to have you two actually doing a bit of give and take, instead of having you make a statement and then her make a statement. Sal G. * GENUINELY UPSET The presenter was very good. He made her admit that the judges weren’t really Asian and kept hammering the point home. Had it been a proper debate, you would have slaughtered her. You came across as genuinely upset and concerned, while she was smooth and corporate and snootily condescending. I couldn’t believe it when she said: “Why should Asian people judge Asian writers?” D.R. * Mr Jam writes: Thanks for the letters. Don’t blame the RTHK people for the bizarre structure of the show. They wanted it to be a proper debate. Ms Sayer told them that she would only agree to come on if it was structured as two separate interviews. Make of that what you will. *I agree that the presenters were excellent. The whole thing is on the RTHK website, if you want to listen to it. It’s kind of boring, but here’s a bit of the discussion. *I won't include the whole transcript (way too boring) and I won't reproduce my arguments -- you've heard them before. Instead, I shall let the board representative hoist herself with her own petard.*The presenter is Hugh Chiverton, and the board member was Rosemary Sayer. At this point, they are talking about the judges of the Man Asia Literary Prize: * Chiverton: Don’t you think it’s strange they are not Asian? * Sayer: Hugh, this is an international prize! * Chiverton: It’s an Asian literary prize. * Sayer: It’s about -- let’s just this straight -- because I think perhaps Nury had an idea about a prize -- we’re talking a prize that is about recognizing the very best in Asian writing in English, it’s about bringing Asian writers to the international stage. And isn’t it funny that there isn’t an Asian judge? Well, I’m sorry but Adrianna Clarkson was born in Hong Kong. I think it’s actually -- * Chiverton: But she’s Canadian though, isn’t she, really? * Sayer: But how do you describe race? Quite frankly I find this whole thing quite distasteful. I’ve lived in Hong Kong for nearly 12 years. I’m a permanent resident. Am I not Asian? * Chiverton: But none of the -- * Sayer: Nicholas Jose has lived in China! * Chiverton: But none of the-- * Sayer: Speaks Putonghua and is an excellent expert in translation! We need-- * Chiverton: But none of the judges lives in Asia. * Sayer: Does that matter? * Chiverton: It seems a bit strange when you have an Asian literary prize. * Sayer: It’s the international prize attracting writers from around the world, be they Indian writers, we’re having prizes from all over the world. * Chiverton: It’s not international. It’s Asian. * Sayer: Yes, recognizing the best writing and it’s about bringing Asian writers to the global stage. We’ve picked the most talented, the most outstanding line-up of international judges. Why should Asian people judge Asian writers? I don’t understand that. *